Adolescents and substance abuse: the effects of substance abuse on parents and siblings

This study aimed to describe the adverse effects that adolescent substance abuse has on the levels of care giving and well-being of families. The researchers used a qualitative case study design which focused on an issue of concern (such as adolescent substance abuse) and thus selected one case to elucidate the issue, i.e., a single case study. The case would be the family members of substance abusing adolescents in Mitchells Plain, a township in Cape Town, as an exemplar for the study. Purposive sampling was used to select 12 participants, seven parents (mothers) and five siblings. Individual semi-structured interviews were utilized for data collection through the use of interview schedules. The data were analysed in the form of qualitative thematic analysis where four themes emerged, which focused on the various effects (for example, financial, physical, emotional, and distrust) on family well-being resulting from living with a substance-abusing adolescent.